Don't Expect To See A Mainline Pokémon Game On Wii U Or Your Smartphone

As you may well be aware, Pokémon X & Y launches worldwide today. VG247 has been speaking to Game Freak's Junichi Masuda about the potential future of the best-selling series.

One of the topics up for discussion was the possibility of more Pokémon games on the Wii U. We've already seen Pokémon Rumble U, but like all of the home console-based entries in the franchise, it was a spin-off with different gameplay to the main portable lineage. Is there ever going to be a domestic mainline Pokémon release? Masuda doesn't think so at the moment:

With the bottom screen there’s a feature called the Player Search System. It’s enabled one to look for and find other players in the same area, so if you’re out and about and there are other people playing Pokémon X and Y, you can see the icons of those trainers on the bottom screen. Just by touching the icon of that trainer you can immediately propose to battle or trade with that person. It’s one of the key features of Pokémon X and Pokémon Y which is possible because it is portable.

But by the same token if you take the game home and you connect it through the internet, then you can do the same thing with other people who are also playing online at the same time. You can trade and battle with people you’ve not met before. We think this mode of play is bets possible with the Nintendo 3DS. If, for example, the Wii U were to be portable in its own right we’d probably reconsider. But for the moment we think the 3DS is the best device for Pokémon RPGs.

And what about Pokémon on smartphones — surely the perfect medium for the title's battle-focused, portable gameplay? Again, Masuda isn't keen:

One of the considerations we have for Pokémon games is that it can be safely and securely played in a fun environment. Are you happy to give the game to your own child or lend it to another child? Personally, I’m a little bit nervous. I find some of the other mobile platforms a little bit frighting – so to speak – in this respect. Who knows what the future will hold, but definitely the best choice for Pokémon is the Nintendo 3DS.

Finally, there was the issue of DLC and microtransactions — systems which are used on other formats which generate an incredible amount of revenue. Masuda feels that such mechanics "don't feel safe enough" at present:

Going back to being able to play Pokémon games in a secure environment is critical. One key point obviously is that Pokémon is played a lot by children, and in Japan it’s got a rating where everyone can play it, an ‘E’ rating in America and Europe is slightly stricter. It’s very important for us that as many people as possible are able to play the Pokémon games in a safe environment.

We like the idea that through Pokémon people can make conversation or you can become friends and that Pokémon can be a safe environment for that. In terms of DLC specifically, I don’t know what shape DLC can take in the future. But at the moment I don’t feel it’s a safe enough mode – so to speak – appropriate for Pokémon.

There’s no download content or microtransaction content developed specifically for Pokémon X and Y. We’ve not come up with any ideas on that yet. I like the idea that Pokémon can be enjoyed with just one piece of software. You buy the game and it can be enjoyed just with that one software that you buy. That’s a key point for Game Freak.

Have you picked up the game yet? Share your feelings on it — and Masuda's comments — by posting a comment below.

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Damien has over a decade of professional writing experience under his belt, as well as a repulsively hairy belly. Rumours that he turned down a role in The Hobbit to work on Nintendo Life are, to the best of our knowledge, completely and utterly unfounded.

Thay have sed all along that the main line story will remain on portabils and thats fine with me. TBH thow if there doing a home concile game id not want it to be like the hand held games eniway id mutch rather have something new and a difrnt game play dinamic and i dont want to see Pokemon on phones full stop unles its like the poke dex like app.

While I can agree with him that smartphones aren't a good idea for games, I can't see why they can't make a pokemon game for the Wii U. The Wii U plays similarly like the DS so what is the problem here?

Happy to have it on 3DS, happy it stays there, but the his smartphone talk doesn't make any sense.Lots of reasons for pokemon games to not be on other platforms, many good ones.But not the one he speaks of.Bad translation?

@Bliquid- I think the point he was getting at was expanded on with the DLC/microtransactions part. There's a certain expectation that smart phone apps hit a very small price point, possibly even free, and then earn revenue through microtransactions. You don't have to follow that trend of course, and Pokemon is a big enough brand where they could probably get away with it, but I feel like he's concerned with not damaging the brand by placing it on smartphones because of that expectation.

There are benefits to portability, sure, but that doesn't make this any less disappointing to hear. They could at least remake the six adventures for a home consoles. The games on handheld devices are great, but the games could be expanded so much further on the Wii U.

I suppose you could argue that online Pokémon is through Nintendo's servers, and that you know any Pokémon game you find on a Nintendo system is 100% official. Where as on third party platforms like mobile phones, Nintendo has less control.

Pokemon simply wont work on its fullest on a home console.It needs to look good, so graphics would take a lot of space on the disc, leaving not much room to implement each and every pokemon. Therefore, we end up with games like the gamecube ones. A drasticly reduced monster pool.Also, the whole "getting together to trade / battle" will fall away and no, it isnt comparable to online multiplayer in any shape or form.The stadium games were the best way to portrait pokemon on the big screen. It focused on pokemon battles, had each and every pokemon that existed at that point and didnt feature a halve baked story.

Colosseum and XD actually had every Pokemon on the disc (XD even had Bonsly and an additional model for Shadow Lugia). The Pokemon pool was restricted not because of graphics but because of a conscious gameplay decision...whether that was the right choice or not remains up to you of course, but I personally enjoyed those game's take on the Pokemon gameplay. It was a different experience from the handheld games, and a lot of Colosseum's flaws were ironed out in the sequel. Now if only we could get that different story mode with a game that had all of Stadium's features.

The only way I can see Pokémon working on the Wii U is if you limited the amount of Pokémon you get in a story system to say 6-10, and you created a bond with them- similar to the way the TV show happens. Home consoles need a strong storyline, whereas the DS/2DS/3DS is a thinner storyline and your Pokémon are little more than weapons. It's basically a more skilled top trumps video game. It doesn't notice so much when you're playing for short periods, but this would be exposed on a home console.

They have been saying portability is key for years. The whole concept of Pokemon, Pocket Monsters, would be thrown out the window with a console Pokemon game. That said, I really hope they make a console Pokemon game, they could build off of what was in XD Gale of Darkness, Colosseum, etc. and make the game with the teams that made those, in glorious HD. That would be awesome. If I had to guess, I say that they would do that if they had better cross-functionality, so maybe on the next generation of Nintendo consoles?

@eaglebob345 my thoughts exactly. Pokémon is intended to be a game where players can still meet up to play together. That possibility would be thrown out of the window if a main series entry was released on a home console.

And though Masuda's comment on smartphone gaming isn't really convincing, it's still a bad idea. Why? Obviously because smartphones don't belong in children's hands, regardless of how many kids actually own one - so that wouuld technically rule out about half of the target audience.

@eaglebob345"...If I had to guess, I say that they would do that if they had better cross-functionality,..."But ins't Nintendo always telling about the great possibilities the connection of their portables and their home consoles would/could offer (GC-GBA, Wii-DS, Wii U-3DS)? And I don't remember having seen themselves making good and comprehensive use of this connectivity within their own games up to now. Have I missed something?They should/could start with this right now and show how real connectivity between a portable and a home console works - before Sony does it with PS4 and PSV (though Sony already said this about PS3/PSV and did they show much? I don't remember).

Anyway...don't see why they're so adamant of not bringing a GOOD Pokemon game to consoles. It won't undermine the portable series. I mean, they are bringing Smash to portables, and there have been Mario Kart games on portables and consoles since like forever.

It's just hilarious. Nintendo could make oodles of money if they announced a large REAL Pokemon type MMO for Wii U. If they don't think they can make one, seal the deal and form a partnership with a western studio....Activision would chomp at such an opportunity.

Expectations for a main Pokemon game on a current console would be higher than the style of game requires. I like that Nintendo doesn't always try to cash in for short-term gain like others have. One reason their franchises last is that they don't burn the audience out by pumping out titles too often. I remember when Pokemon was new, and I never thought it would last so song.

My guess has always been that they don't want to make a main Pokémon game in a console because they don't want kids locked up in rooms all day long, WoW style. At least with portables they can go outside and play.

And second guess, the portables are more popular in Japan than home consoles.

"There’s no download content or microtransaction content developed specifically for Pokémon X and Y. We’ve not come up with any ideas on that yet. I like the idea that Pokémon can be enjoyed with just one piece of software. You buy the game and it can be enjoyed just with that one software that you buy. That’s a key point for Game Freak."

Im glad there are developers that still think this way. DLC and constant game patching are really starting to sour my gaming experiences as of late. constant paywall, nickle and dime tactics. then game companies get mad when no one buys that crap to begin with. People didnt have any problems throwing 60 bucks at a game 2 generations ago because they knew the game was stacked with content. now its like, let me wait as long as possible before I purchase this game because when I get home I gunna have to cough up another 30 to 60 bucks just to get the whole experience.

Honestly, if they do a mainline Pokemon game for a home console, it would be a one time thing for Pokemon's anniversary. An anniversary game for a home console with all 6 regions (or however many there will be at the time) where you can catch 'em all in one game would be cool and is probably not out of the question.

I'm sick of everyone saying a real, non-spinoff Pokemon game wouldn't work on a console. "That would ruin the point of Pokemon!" I call BS. That's like saying SSB shouldn't be on handhelds because that would ruin the point of Smash (which is to get together and cause mayhem on the same screen). You could still battle and trade with friends on the N64 Colosseum games (where it was more cumbersome than it would be today).

Like @LUIGITORNADO said, having console and handheld versions of Mario Kart isn't killing it's appeal. Neither is Mario, Zelda, Monster Hunter or anything else you can think of. If games are made right, they'll stay popular wherever they are.

So nice to see an appropriate approach to microtransactions, DLC, and mobile phone games.
Personally, I get a little queezy just thing about a Pokémon game on a phone. Mobile games consitenty lack the depth and variety of their console counterparts. A Pokémon game on a phone would be a mockery in my opinion. Besides, Pokémon and Nintendo go hand-in-hand.
I appreciate their choice to protect their younger audience from microtransactions, but shouldn't ahem everyone be exempt from such nonsense? I just think that's a strange reason to avoid microstransactions. Just cause I'm older doesn't mean I am any more okay with being nickeled and dimed on a game I already paid for. Annoyances aside, microtranactions fly in the face of everything video games are meant to be. A game that relies on microtransactions creates a world where a player can reach the top of the leaderboards based on the depth of their pockets rather than their depth of their knowledge or skill. Either way, microtransactions have been ruled out in Pokémon, and rightly so. I am happy with this.
Finally, DLC can be a blessing or a curse depending on how it is handled. If it provideds additional content that is over and above the original material then I'm all for it. However, if the greedy game developers hold half the game that you already paid for as ransom, then that's downright criminal. All in all, I'm not upset in the least to hear there will be no DLC for Pokémon.
I am sad to hear there are no plans for a Wii U Pokémon title though.
Sorry for such a long comment.

Given that Pokemon has, almost always, been a vehicle for the Nintendo handheld systems, a mainline Pokemon game on another platform was a pretty far-fetched idea. I also agree with Masuda's points on keeping Pokemon off the Wii U. Akin to Animal Crossing, I feel the franchise just plays better when on the go. The portability definitely adds to the Pokemon experience since you can access the game at any time.

@Ambermoon That's what I meant. If they could do it well, it would be nice. We know that it can happen, but it takes a lot of doing, like how Capcom got the 3ds online through the Wii U for MH3U which defeated the purpose entirely.

@Kaze_Memaryu It seems like the PSS is kinda doing away with meeting other trainers while traveling, in person, etc. I was hoping it was like a local co-op linking so I could play through with my brother, but it is more like a C-Gear on the internet. That said, this game is freaking awesome and I LOVE it!!

I don't see why Masuda is so uncomfortable with console development for Pokemon. I mean if anything the Wii U is the perfect home console by Nintendo for him. It has the 3DS like tablet and has touch control so I don't know exactly what he meant by you can just click on people and propose to battle them as it would be possible on the Wii U also.Another thing about the Wii U is that with Miiverse and Nintendo's online multiplayer, trading and battling would be simple as you could do it directly online or they could do a Wind Waker like feature (with the bottles coming in) and allow trading/messages come in through the post office or something. Sonic Lost Worlds also has a trading item feature using Miiverse, right? So, I think Pokemon would be perfect for Wii U, though Animal Crossing in a way would be understandably more hard with the Wii U since it's not 100% portable.

@eaglebob345 true that, but it's still portable. And that's the entire point to it.

@PikminWorld it's the portability point. Imagine X and Y as WiiU games (technical stuff and support included) - now imagine how annoying it would be to MANY fans that the main series has transisted to the much more expensive platform, and you can't play on the go anymore. Most Pokémon fans use every chance they have to make at least one tiny bit of progress during breaks (be it school or work), on holiday, during long drives or flights.... all of this would be gone for an entire generation!Half of my life would've been boring.

Ya see this is exactly what I hate about Nintendo, practically everyone in the comments section is begging for a Wii U Pokemon game and guess what? The creator himself confirmed its not happening. Idk if Nintendo refuses to make certain games if they can't add anything new but it wouldn't hurt to listen to the fans once in a while ya know?

I Want Full RPG Pokemon for Wii U or i will sell me Wii U( but in me Country Poland is hard to sell this i try 1 time ) and never never will buy that poopsiedoodlecacapoopiedoggiedoodoos what im have play only mario? No sense... Pokemon Colloseum TO i dont want i want Like Pokemon X & Y Pokemon for Wii U im really mad im buy Wii U and only see "mario" mario mario mario mario mario mario mario mario mario.

lest try ppl to make petition Please watch the profanity and abide by our Community Rules with regard to Unacceptable Content in posts here at NL — TBD

@Kaze_MemaryuThat's true now that I think about it. I guess they could do another generation, with one version on 3DS and one on Wii U. While the 3DS one would probably sell more, it would be interesting.

@SNESuperiorI think the point he was making was less "for the children" and more along the lines of they're not going to have quite the same grasp of the concept. It creates a situation where one kid has something another kid doesn't because he bought it. Hard to share in an experience you can't have, right? Its not quite so fun being the odd man out now is it?

Most kids won't know the meaning of something like 'vote with your wallet' either now will they? They know they could put just about anything out and young kids would eat it up, they likely wouldn't know any better. So its up to them to show some self-control on their part, both from an ethics and reputation standpoint. Taking advantage would look bad on their part.

A HD non-spinoff Pokemon will be cool and shift units. But let's not go too far. They could start with remastered HD Pokemon games(In HD, with 3D graphics or the original one) for the price of $50-$60. SYSTEM SELLER! But TBH, I don't mind. I love the game on handhelds!

Here's what they should do for a pokemon game on WII U. Make a stadium 3. Because pokemon is a very competitive series. So the best thing to do is make a better online play. Even though i hated Battle revolution on Wii it did have a decent online multiplayer And thats what WII U NEEDS. fix the things that made revolution bad improve like how they did with XD. Thats what the WII U needs a strong online multiplayer game thats exlusive to WII U

@Nintendboy14 you mean TRUE pokemon titles... After all we did get Pokemon Rumble on the Wii seriously though, that game got me to try Pokemon, and I might just like it my thoughts? Make the game cross-playable... (WTF am I talk in' bout?) now with street pass built in on the Wii U, you can buy the Wii U version of the game (presumably you would also own a 3DS version as well) when you come home, you would be able to trade or battle via Wii U (It would have to be two separate games) later on...

Compatible save games, that way you could upload the save game of the 3DS version to the console and vice versa. So you can play while you're somewhere out there and you can continue playing, sitting comfortably on your couch, on the big screen. Or use the save game of the 3DS to train your Pokémon in a Pokémon Stadium like game - with online connectivity, of course. Or local multiplayer, one on the console, another one, or two, or three on a 3DS.
Nothing more than a dream?

P.S.: As I just read there's a game on the PS3/Vita which exactly offers this: compatible save games and - at least in the just patched Japanese version - with coop play on PS3 and Vita.

Quite honestly, from a big Nintendo fan, Nintendo's excuses for not doing something can be borderline insulting.

He's talking like this new player search feature is all of the sudden a requirement for a pokemon game. Ok, fine, you can't do the brand new feature that you just now added for the first time if it was on Wii U. I guess that means an RPG wouldn't work on Wii U at all. Genius.

So it's illegal to release a mainline Pokemon game for console? WTF Nintendo, everyone I know would gladly buy a Wii U if it had an in-deph AAA Pokemon RPG that features all six regions (Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, Unova, and Kalos) and its Pokemon.

i dont even play pokemon with anyone else multiplayer. if i'm gonna ever do so it'll be when i'm on a console.I think the reason for the portable is because it's "pocket monsters" not "oh i have a monster at home but it can't follow me around becauseit'll kill people" gameit would be awesome though. I played Sapphire on the gameboy player on my gamecube, magical experience right there

I honestly don't see why other than possibly minimal resources that Nintendo relies on, why they couldn't get 1 of their other developers to work on a Pokémon Online RPG, MMO, whatever you'd like to call it. GameFreak isn't the primary developer, they develop for handhelds. I'd agree with others who brought up Colesseum as an example. Portability has nothing to do with why it couldn't be done right, or with DLC opportunities in mind, I also have to disagree that about the tablet factor, because contrary to what they believe or they're telling us, technically the 3DS falls under tablet functionality, as a handheld hybrid. People have been begging for a Pokémon online MMO for years and years. isn't it about time for Nintendo to step outside of their comfort zone and do it on the hardware that was made to handle it properly? Nintendo doesn't realize just how profitable a WII U/console MMO for Pokémon would be. The simple fact alone that people regardless of generation are still supporting the franchise already proves it.

@DaveGX I think you're right that an mmo would be way out of their comfort zone, and I'm not sure if they even need to go that far. I think a simple mainline pokemon game on a home console would be huge. Make it big. Go all out. They're absolutely insane if they don't think it will sell the Wii U.

As for the microtransactions, thank God. Microtransactions and Pokémon together even as far as in the same sentence would be overkill.

As for home console Pokémon games, well - a home console would be perfect for remakes from now on, but still, I'm kind of annoyed at the way Nintendo has kept so many franchises either handheld-only or home console-only. Thankfully, however, the trend has been broken as - for example - Mario Kart and Starfox have started popping up on handhelds, with Smash Bros. being pretty much the last franchise that's stepping out of the "home console ghetto", so to speak.